As long as students and the faculty are safe, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Popoy De Vera expressed optimism that more higher education institutions (HEIs) will be allowed to reopen their campuses for limited face-to-face classes.
“Ako ay naniniwala na kung maipakita natin na ligtas ang mga bata, tayo’s unti-unting pwede magbukas (I believe that if we can show that the students are safe, we can slowly reopen),” CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera said in a virtual presser on Aug. 27.
To date, De Vera said that only higher education institutions (HEIs) that offer medical and allied health science are allowed by the government to offer limited face-to-face classes.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/27/ched-118-universities-colleges-approved-to-hold-limited-face-to-face-classes/
However, De Vera said that limited face-to-face classes may soon be allowed for three more degree courses which include Engineering, Maritime, and Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM).
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/27/ched-awaits-dutertes-approval-to-expand-limited-face-to-face-classes-to-3-more-programs/
Asked why these three courses were prioritized for the expanded limited in-person classes, De Vera noted that it is because they were the ones who “worked hard” on it.
“Kasi sila yung masipag gumawa ng Flexible Learning curriculum, sila ang nagsipag (They worked on the Flexible Learning curriculum, they really worked hard for it),” De Vera said.
He explained that having the guidelines is very important before getting the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) . “I would not go to the IATF and ask them to allow the expanded face-to-face classes if there is no flexible learning guide,” De Vera said.
With the flexible learning guide, De Vera said that implementing the expanded limited face-to-face classes for the degree courses that were allowed will be much more efficient.
“Kailangan may dokumento na gabay ng lahat (We need a document to guide the) HEIs. Otherwise, there will be different implementation,” De Vera said.
De Vera also underscored the importance for HEIs to follow the guidelines set by CHED and the Department of Health (DOH).
“For President Duterte, the safety of students is an issue, it’s non-negotiable so if there are doubts, he would say ‘never mind,’” De Vera said in a mix of English and Filipino.
He then asked CHED Regional Offices and the DOH to “brace for more work” as there will be more HEIs that will be allowed to offer limited face-to-face classes in the coming months.